24. 'Party Down'

Had it debuted in 2014, Party Down would have been a hit. After all, it's the kind of show tailor-made for binge viewing; an acerbic ensemble comedy that also aches with a sublime sadness. Instead, stowed away on Starz, it vanished after two seasons, and though almost everyone involved – Adam Scott, Lizzie Caplan, co-creator Rob Thomas – went on to bigger things, those in the know still mourn the loss, and not just for the jokes. Centered on an L.A. catering company staffed with also-rans, Party Down nailed the reality of Hollywood, a town where dreams die on a daily basis.Like Martin Starr's "hard sci-fi" loving Roman DeBeers opined: "Fantasy is bullshit."—JAMES MONTGOMERY